how to remove staked castle nut? I have the tool but no vise

[nedro]

In the first pic, it is obvious that you are turning it the wrong way!!!

[joefrank64k]

They had them for $58 at Brownells, but they’re OoS now.

https://www.brownells.com/gunsmith-t...prod72950.aspx

Plenty on GB for about $60 shipped.

[Sir_Ricardo]

Originally Posted by nedro

In the first pic, it is obvious that you are turning it the wrong way!!!

First pic? Qu'est-ce que c'est?

[nedro]

Because the stake is put in the middle or on the trailing edge of the notch as it comes off so that there is no natural movement.
The pic shows that the stake is on the leading edge of the notch as it comes off.
It shows that the castle nut was being tightened instead of loosened.
Plus, no stake could ever keep someone from removing the nut. It is only done to keep it from coming off accidently.
But in full disclosure, after seeing that first pic. I didn't look at anything else or read anything else past that.

[Sir_Ricardo]

Originally Posted by nedro

.....But in full disclosure, after seeing that first pic. I didn't look at anything else or read anything else past that.

Definitely a time-saving tactic!

[nedro]

Touche!
Just make sure that your wrench isn't digging into the threads and locking up that way.
And if it is possible to secure both sides of the nut (lower and buffer tube) breaking it loose will be easier.

[Sir_Ricardo]

Originally Posted by nedro

Touche!
Just make sure that your wrench isn't digging into the threads and locking up that way.
And if it is possible to secure both sides of the nut (lower and buffer tube) breaking it loose will be easier.

Good call. My intent is to use the Magpul wrench (when it arrives) and to stabilize the gun at two points; the buffer tube - with the vise pictured - AND the magazine well - with another vise and the Real Avid mag block.

Winston Churchill: "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few."

Sir_Ricardo: "Never will have so many tools, so many words, so much thinking gone into a $30 job."

To be fair, though, once I get this nut off, I have a BCM lower I'm going to do the same thing to. So the lesson(s) learned will be immediately reused.

[ar15barrels]

Originally Posted by Sir_Ricardo

Good call. My intent is to use the Magpul wrench (when it arrives) and to stabilize the gun at two points; the buffer tube - with the vise pictured - AND the magazine well - with another vise and the Real Avid mag block.

Winston Churchill: "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few."

Sir_Ricardo: "Never will have so many tools, so many words, so much thinking gone into a $30 job."

To be fair, though, once I get this nut off, I have a BCM lower I'm going to do the same thing to. So the lesson(s) learned will be immediately reused.

Has it been determined if you were actually turning the castle nut in the proper direction?
I can say with absolute certainly that the nut will not come off properly by being turned the wrong way.
I have never tried to break a receiver or receiver extension on purpose by over-tightening the castle nut, but I suppose it's possible.

[ar15barrels]

And for reference so there is no confusion, here is a picture of the proper direction that the nut needs to go to be loosened:

[Sir_Ricardo]

Originally Posted by ar15barrels

Has it been determined if you were actually turning the castle nut in the proper direction?.....

Yes, I am / was unscrewing it, not tightening it. There are 50,000,000 youtube videos on this, and I followed the directions properly.

[Packy14]

Originally Posted by LBDamned

Decent castle nut wrench (i have a few but always use Magpul, the others are crap) and decent vise (I used to use a standard craftsman bench vise, but got this real avid recently: https://www.realavid.com/product/master-gun-vise/) - any sturdy vise...

There are multiple ways to secure your lower in a vise... but this tool is clever (I picked one up, but haven't used it yet)



There are loads of ways to secure and torque... OP seems concerned about the stake itself - just secure the wrench well and crank on it, the nut will break past the stake.


...

I like the real avid products but I sure wouldn’t pay 250 for their vise. Wilton 160$ on Amazon this one is nice (got it for 130$ in 2021)

[LBDamned]

Originally Posted by Packy14

I like the real avid products but I sure wouldn’t pay 250 for their vise. Wilton 160$ on Amazon this one is nice (got it for 130$ in 2021)

I dont remember where I got mine or how much I paid- but it wasn't from their site at their msrp... I only used their link to show the product- OP can search for deals

I think I might have got it from dvor

[ar15barrels]

Originally Posted by Packy14

I like the real avid products but I sure wouldn’t pay 250 for their vise. Wilton 160$ on Amazon this one is nice (got it for 130$ in 2021)

The $130 to $160 wiltons are all imported and are likely no better than any other imported vise.
If you are buying a Wilton for it's quality, make sure it's a USA made one.
If it's not marked as USA, it's not a USA made one.

You can occaisionally find a legit old USA made Wilton Bullet Vise for $150 if you watch craigslist, ebay and actively go to estate sales.

[press press]

Drink your can of man in the morning and muscle that castle nut off.
If you have to step on it.

[Yumitori]

Originally Posted by ar15barrels

Wrap the lower in a towel while leaving the buffer tube and castle nut outside of the towel.
Set the towel wrapped lower in a chair so that the buffer tube sticks out to one side.
Sit on the towel wrapped lower and use a castle nut wrench to loosen the castle nut.

Thank you Randall. I had my kid sit on it while I pulled and it came off.

[67Cuda]

I live in the East Bay. If you're still having trouble, PM me.

[Sir_Ricardo]

All ended well. I purchased $5000 worth of tools, found that my IQ thus improved by 25 points, and then no problems.

Just kidding, but I did purchase a VISM / NCSTAR vice-block (spelling?) and a Magpul wrench. Between the two of them the castle nut just came off. Yes, I had to put some force into it, but the Magpul wrench is massive, and it instantly transferred my energy into the nut. Also, given the wrench's indentation, it stayed on the nut, which was a worry with my cheap wrench. The vice-block kept the whole thing steady with no flex.

Now, on to the next step, which is to install this mil-surp A2 buttstock. I'll keep y'all advised.

thanks a LOT for all your comments, I really appreciate it.

Richard

p.s. the joke about IQ improvement, while a joke, feels partially real. There truly is no substitute for proper tools. Granted, I understand that some of you could have done this job without a high-quality wrench, and a high-quality vise arrangement, but believe me, I tried the cheap route. I don't like buying tools. However, in this case, the difference in ease and effectiveness was dramatic. The expensive, "proper" way was FAR superior to the cheap way. What can I say.

[sigstroker]

Originally Posted by Sir_Ricardo

but believe me, I tried the cheap route. I don't like buying tools. However, in this case, the difference in ease and effectiveness was dramatic. The expensive, "proper" way was FAR superior to the cheap way. What can I say.

I heard that. After I graduated high school, a chinese tool truck came into town, and I bought my first socket/ratchet set for 9 bucks. I pretty much used only that for the next 20 years. Anything else I needed to do could be done (sorta) with slip joint pliers or a screwdriver. By the time I finally got decent tools, I didn't want to work on cars any more.

[tomk556]

Guess it doesn’t surprise me that the castle but is on there well with it coming from Geissle. As others have said, just look at it as removing the castle nut and ignore the staking. That being said it can be hard and it generally takes more force than I think. Maybe they threw some anti-seize on there. You probably need to order the vise blocks if it’s on there that well.

[ar15barrels]

Originally Posted by Sir_Ricardo

Now, on to the next step, which is to install this mil-surp A2 buttstock. I'll keep y'all advised.

The Magpul wrench has a specific hole with flat sides to tighten the A2 receiver extension into the lower receiver.

[Sir_Ricardo]

Originally Posted by ar15barrels

The Magpul wrench has a specific hole with flat sides to tighten the A2 receiver extension into the lower receiver.

thanks for the head's up.....oddly enough, that hole on my new Magpul wrench did not fit over the buffer tube extrusion.....instead, I used a crescent wrench to tighten the buffer tube.

I've 'successfully' installed the A2 buttstock....but...it's loose. It has a bit of forward/back play, as well as slight rotational play.

I installed a vintage mil-surp A2 buttstock; maybe that's the problem.

I've followed the correct installation procedure; install buffer tube, put spacer/buttstock on (careful with the detent spring), and then tighten the buttstock screw down. It feels secure, just not immobile.

Maybe because it's an old buttstock?

In any case, it looks highly cool to me.

thanks again for all comments!

[ar15barrels]

Originally Posted by Sir_Ricardo

oddly enough, that hole on my new Magpul wrench did not fit over the buffer tube extrusion.....

Sounds like you have a low quality receiver extension which is not milspec because that hole with flats in the wrench fits milspec A1/A2 receiver extensions.

[Sir_Ricardo]

Originally Posted by ar15barrels

Sounds like you have a low quality receiver extension which is not milspec because that hole with flats in the wrench fits milspec A1/A2 receiver extensions.

I'll get another.....do you have a recommendation or two for decent A2 buffer assemblies?

[ar15barrels]

Originally Posted by Sir_Ricardo

I'll get another.....do you have a recommendation or two for decent A2 buffer assemblies?

Not many original makers of A2 receivers extensions left.
I would check with Stag Arms as CMT would likely have been the source for Colt and Stag Arms is run by the son of the owner of CMT.
Bushmaster also sold a lot of A2 guns back in the day so Windham Weaponry which is many of the old Bushmaster employees would likely still use the same suppliers as Bushmaster did.
I don't know if LMT sells A2 receiver extensions today, but they were likely the manufacturing source for Armalite from the 90's to 2010's.

[sigstroker]

I had a Bushy A2 setup, and it was rock solid. If yours is wobbly in the least, something is wrong.